Isle of Wight supervisors will talk money to finish out school year

ISLE OF WIGHT— — Contention between the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors and School Board over money for the rest of the school year will be revisited Thursday.

For months schools staff have been telling the Board of Supervisors that without additional money they will have trouble making payroll in May and June, and at the April 18 meeting suggested that if enough funds weren't supplied officials would have to close school early this year.

Since then rumors have swirled including that schools would close in May, graduation would be canceled and that food won't be available at schools.

"It's just kind of ridiculous how all of this is happening," said Sarah Dale, a senior at Smithfield High School. She added that government teachers have been telling students schools will close in May, causing them to not be able to graduate and to have to pay for online classes this summer to get their diplomas.

Closing schools early requires a waiver from the Virginia Board of Education that allows for it only in the case of declared disasters, according to the Virginia Department of Education. Without a waiver, the state withholds basic aid funding in proportion to the number of days schools are closed.

Isle of Wight schools officials have contacted the VDOE on the issue, according to VDOE spokesman Charles Pyle. The earliest a request could go before the state board would be May, with a decision not likely until its June meeting, though no request has been made.

"I believe we are going to be able to avoid that," said Isle of Wight School Board member Kent Hildebrand. "I think that the Board of Supervisors, we're going to be able to work with them to come up with enough funding to get us through the end of the year. I hope that happens."

JoAnn Hall, chair of the Board of Supervisors, said her daughter who attends Smithfield High was texting her all day Tuesday because so many rumors were circulating.

"I sure hope that we can make some steps toward taking care of it tomorrow," Hall said Wednesday. "I believe that we need to get it resolved, and the sooner the better. It's very worrisome."

The supervisors approved an additional $750,000 for schools on April 18, and will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss school rollover funds. Monday the School Board authorized Superintendent Katrise Perera as necessary before June 30 to impose furloughs and layoffs, cancel landscaping contracts and cancel or reduce custodial services, as well as to cancel all outstanding purchase orders for goods and services not yet received.

Hildebrand said the School Board had to have a plan in place if there wasn't enough money to get through June, and that it was "not blowing a smoke screen."

The total current budget for schools is $59 million, including $27.6 million in local funds. The source of a yearlong conflict is $1.4 million that the school district returned to the county at the end of 2012, with the understanding that it would be given back to pay bills from June of 2012, Hildebrand said.

Schools budget

The Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors meets Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Isle of Wight County Courthouse, 17130 Monument Circle, to discuss school rollover funds.